Obituaries Cleveland Plain Dealer Today

Remembering the Unforgettable: A Peek into Today's Cleveland Plain Dealer Obituaries

So, I was sitting at my favorite coffee shop this morning, the one with the barista who can never spell my name right but always gets my order just right. I was scrolling through my phone, you know, doing that thing where you pretend to read the news but are actually just looking for cat videos. And then, I stumbled upon something that made me pause, made me look up from my screen and actually read.

It was the obituaries section of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Now, I know what you're thinking. "Obituaries? Really? That's where you found something interesting?" But hear me out. There's a story in every life, and the obituaries section is like a library of those stories, just waiting to be discovered.

Meet the Unseen Heroes

Take, for instance, Harriet Thompson. She passed away last week at the age of 92. Now, Harriet wasn't a celebrity, didn't have a Wikipedia page, and probably wouldn't have made the front page of the newspaper when she was alive. But her obituary told a story that was more captivating than any Hollywood blockbuster.

Harriet was a librarian for over 50 years. She didn't just check books in and out; she was a storyteller, a confidante, a community builder. She started the first book club in her neighborhood, a place where people from all walks of life could come together, share stories, and build bridges. She didn't just love books; she loved people, and she used books as a way to connect with them.

And then there's Frankie "The Flash" Johnson. He was a runner, a record-breaker, and a community activist. He didn't have much growing up, but he had speed. He used that speed to run out of poverty, to run into a better life. He ran so fast that he became a local legend, a symbol of hope and determination. His obituary wasn't just a eulogy; it was a testament to the power of perseverance, a call to keep running, keep fighting, keep dreaming.

Jasara Deuley Obituary (2005) - Cleveland, OH - The Plain Dealer

Obituaries: The Unsung Section

You might be wondering why I'm making such a big deal about the obituaries section. Well, it's because it's often overlooked, underappreciated. It's the unsung section of the newspaper, the one that doesn't get shared on social media, the one that's often skipped over in favor of the more sensational headlines.

But it's in this section that we find the real stories, the human stories. It's here that we meet the unsung heroes, the quiet revolutionaries, the people who made a difference, not with fanfare or fame, but with kindness, courage, and love.

Jack McDermott covered sports for The Plain Dealer and other papers

Remembering the Forgotten

So, the next time you pick up a newspaper, or scroll through the news online, don't skip over the obituaries section. Take a moment to remember the forgotten, to celebrate the lives of the unsung heroes. Because every life is a story worth telling, a story worth remembering.

And who knows? You might just find a story that makes you pause, makes you look up from your screen, and makes you appreciate the beauty and the brevity of life. Just like I did, sitting in my favorite coffee shop, with my name spelled wrong on my cup, but my heart full of stories.